Some social media posts have claimed that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) associated with cell phones, Wi-Fi, and/or 5G are causing radiation poisoning. EMFs are a kind of radiation that exists on a spectrum of wavelengths, with cell phones on the lower end and X-rays on the higher end. EMFs like these that people encounter in everyday life or from a medical setting are not strong enough to cause radiation poisoning. 

There are two kinds of EMFs, non-ionizing and ionizing. On the low end of the spectrum is non-ionizing radiation; these shorter wavelengths are not strong enough to have any known biological impacts and are called “non-ionizing” because they do not cause any chemical changes in the body. Ionizing radiation occurs at higher wavelengths and includes X-rays and gamma rays which could be harmful in high doses.

Sources of non-ionizing radiation in everyday life include cell phones, the internet, powerlines, and visible light. There is no consistent scientific evidence that non-ionizing EMFs are harmful to human health.  

Ionizing radiation is strong enough to add or remove an electron from atoms in cells. In typical medical settings, effects from things like X-rays are minor, and do not cause significant cell damage.

While different than radiation poisoning, tests like chest x-rays, CT and PET scans, and mammograms that include ionizing radiation could increase the chance that a person develops cancer later in life. However, the risk of cancer from these tests is very small, and the benefit of having them is often greater than the risk. Patients should tell their medical providers about their test history and if they might be pregnant. More information on exposure to ionizing radiation during medical screenings can be found on the CDC website.

Radiation poisoning is not caused by everyday exposure to EMFs and happens when there is a high exposure to radiation in a short time. Causes of radiation poisoning include an industrial accident at a nuclear facility or a nuclear bombing.

While no adverse biological health effects have been found for non-ionizing EMF exposure, scientists continue to monitor and study them.